Published: July 25, 2025
GBARNGA, Bong County — As Liberia prepares to celebrate 178 years of independence on July 26, a wave of public frustration is spreading across the country, driven by worsening economic conditions and a feeling of unfulfilled national promises.
From the streets of Gbarnga to the remote village of Wainsue Kpaai in Jorquelleh District #3, many citizens say the occasion feels less like a celebration and more like a moment of reckoning. Liberia, which declared independence on July 26, 1847, remains Africa’s oldest republic. But nearly two centuries later, many believe the nation has fallen short of its founding ideals.
“It’s a shame on Liberia,” said a Wainsue Kpaai resident, pointing to the poor condition of the town’s only government-run elementary school. The building is in disrepair, with only three teachers managing the entire school. “Our children are suffering. There is no quality education here.”
In rural communities, residents cited rising unemployment, a surge in volunteer teachers, and worsening poverty as signs of ongoing underdevelopment. The feeling was shared in Gbarnga’s busy Bassa Community Market, where small traders say inflation and the weakening Liberian dollar are hurting their businesses.
Buying is very slow. Sometimes only three customers buy from me in a full day,” said Sampson Philips, a local trader. “The U.S. rate has worsened things, and I’m losing money.
Paul Dolo, another vendor, criticized the Unity Party-led government for what he called economic inaction. “We thought things would improve under this government, but it’s even harder now than before,” he said.
Market women expressed similar concerns. Gormah Sumo, who sells local produce, lamented the unpredictability of prices. “Things prices keep changing. That’s why our goods often remain unsold,” she said.
Hawa Kerkulah, the mother of a deceased journalist from Gbarnga, called on the government to invest in youth employment. “Our young people are idle. The government needs to help them find work,” she said.
At the Bong Athletic Intellectual Center, youth leaders called for stronger anti-corruption measures and systemic reforms. “We should not be thinking of celebrating,” one youth activist said. “We must focus on how to move our country forward. Tackling corruption is the surest way to catch up with other developing countries.”
While the government has not released full details of this year’s Independence Day celebrations, many expect them to be more subdued due to budget constraints and widespread public dissatisfaction.
Reflections From Other Counties
The frustrations expressed in Bong County are felt nationwide, especially in commercial hubs like Red Light in Montserrado County. There, the mood is just as bleak.
“There are more sellers than buyers,” said Yawa Bornobolay, a vendor of imported women’s clothing. “You can see over a hundred people selling the same items, but barely forty people even ask for prices—much less buy anything.”
For many, this year’s market activity is driven by necessity, not festivity.
“My children will not wear 26 [Independence Day] clothes. They already know that,” said Tenneh Podah, a single mother. “I’m selling just to save money for school fees. Once we get food to eat, that’s enough.”
Although the government has promised to build 100 new schools across Liberia, parents and educators remain worried about the poor state of many existing schools—along with a significant shortage of qualified teachers and modern learning materials.
As Liberia nears its 178th year of independence, the national mood is more reflective than celebratory. For many, the day reminds them not of how far the country has come but of how much further it still needs to go.
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